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Because Pure water had very few ions; which are needed to conduct the electricity itself. While dirty water or salt water is a great conductor, because it has many other elements fused into the water making this kind of water a solution.

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11y ago
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5mo ago

Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity because it lacks ions, which are needed to carry an electric current. In pure water, there are very few free ions due to the absence of impurities or minerals. Therefore, the lack of ions limits the flow of electric current through pure water.

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11y ago

Water does not conduct electricity. It is the impurities (ions) that allow water to conduct electricity
Pure water is 'bad' conductor of electricity. As there are 'no' free electrons there to carry electricity forward. As hydrogen has 'shared' the only electron with oxygen atom, it has 'relative' positive charge. Hydrogen does not 'donate' electron to oxygen, though it 'demands' electron from hydrogen. Otherwise hydrogen will get 'net' positive charge. So water becomes one of the most polar molecule. And so it forms 'Hydrogen bond' with other molecules. Once you add salts like sodium and potassium chloride to it, which are fully ionized, it becomes very good conductor of electricity. Now question arises 'Why sodium and potassium get 100 % ionized'. For that you see the electronic configuration of them. Sodium has 2,8,1 and potassium has 2,8,8,1. Chlorine has 2,8,7. So sodium and potassium wants to 'give' extra electron to other atoms so that there 'octate' is full filled. By giving this 'extra electron', They both have 10 and 18 electron in hand. So 'net' loss of 'about' 10 % to 5 % electrical charge only respectively. Chlorine want extra electron to full fill outer orbit. For it, it is 'net' gain of 'about' 10 % electrical charge only. In case of hydrogen to give electron is 100 % loss or gain of electrical charge, so it has to thinks twice before giving or taking electron. So it 'shares' electron with other hydrogen atom. So both have 2 electrons in there outer orbit. It is the oxygen,chlorine atom whoforcibly try to take away electron from hydrogen atom to complete there 'octate'.

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Q: Why pure water is a bad conductor of electricity?
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What liquid makes water a bad conductor of electricity?

There are many liquids which are very bad conductors of electricity. these are basicall the type which are covalent in nature. examples: 1.)carbon tetrachloride, 2.)Benzene etc etc other organic fluids (fats etc) even pure water( i.e absolutely pure no impurity no contamination) is a good insulator.


Is water is a bad conductor of electricity?

Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity because it does not contain ions that carry electric charge. However, water can become a conductor if it contains impurities or electrolytes that dissociate into ions, allowing the flow of electricity.


Why is pure water a bad conductor of water?

Pure water is a bad conductor of electricity because it has a very low concentration of ions, which are necessary for electricity to pass through a substance. In pure water, there are very few free ions available to facilitate the flow of electrical current. The presence of impurities or dissolved substances in water increase its conductivity.


Is water bad conductor of electricity?

Absolutely pure water is not a good conductor. However, water is seldom pure and has stuff dissolved in it. In these circumstances water does conduct electricity quite well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yes,but water itself contains 1*10-7 mol/Liter positivly charged H+ and the same amount of negativly charged HO- (ph 7) leading to a conductivity of aprocimatly 0,055 µSiemens/cm (18,2 MOhm )for pure Water at 25 °C (compared with rainwater 35 - 100 µSiemens/cm dependent on Air Polution, River (Rhein Germany ) 300 - 745 µSiemens/cm ,Sea 42 000µSiemens/cm.Therefore i conclude that this is partially correct,depending on variables.


Why salt is needed to conduct electricity?

Ultrapure water is a bad conductor; you need a salt, which form ions, to increase the electrical conductivity.

Related questions

Why Is distill water a good conductor of electricity?

in real, pure distilled water is a bad conductor of electricity.but if the water contains some amount of salt then it conducts to some extent.


What liquid makes water a bad conductor of electricity?

There are many liquids which are very bad conductors of electricity. these are basicall the type which are covalent in nature. examples: 1.)carbon tetrachloride, 2.)Benzene etc etc other organic fluids (fats etc) even pure water( i.e absolutely pure no impurity no contamination) is a good insulator.


Is water is a bad conductor of electricity?

Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity because it does not contain ions that carry electric charge. However, water can become a conductor if it contains impurities or electrolytes that dissociate into ions, allowing the flow of electricity.


Why is pure water a bad conductor of water?

Pure water is a bad conductor of electricity because it has a very low concentration of ions, which are necessary for electricity to pass through a substance. In pure water, there are very few free ions available to facilitate the flow of electrical current. The presence of impurities or dissolved substances in water increase its conductivity.


Is pure water an electrical conductor?

At a high enough voltage, everything is an electrical conductor. Pure water is an exceptionally bad electrical conductor, though.


Is water bad conductor?

Pure water, consisting of only h2o molecules is a very weak, if at all, conductor of electricity. However, if it is not purified, or if there is something else in it, like say, your hand, it becomes highly conductive.


Is water bad conductor of electricity?

Absolutely pure water is not a good conductor. However, water is seldom pure and has stuff dissolved in it. In these circumstances water does conduct electricity quite well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yes,but water itself contains 1*10-7 mol/Liter positivly charged H+ and the same amount of negativly charged HO- (ph 7) leading to a conductivity of aprocimatly 0,055 µSiemens/cm (18,2 MOhm )for pure Water at 25 °C (compared with rainwater 35 - 100 µSiemens/cm dependent on Air Polution, River (Rhein Germany ) 300 - 745 µSiemens/cm ,Sea 42 000µSiemens/cm.Therefore i conclude that this is partially correct,depending on variables.


Sulfur is a bad conductor of what?

Sulfur is a bad conductor of electricity.


Which is bad conductor of electricity but good conductor of heat?

glass, ceramic,diamond, are somtricitytte of the conductor of hear but bad conductor of electricity meher n sethna


Is zinc an good or bad conductor of electricity?

zinc is a good conductor of electricity


Is iron a poor conductor of electricity?

since iron is a metal and most metals are good conductors of electricity one can assume that iron is a fair conductor of electricity. The electrical conductivity of iron is approx. 1/6 from the electrical conductivity of silver (the best known conductor).


Which liquid or oil is bad conductor of electricity?

The worst conductor of electricity is pure distilled water. Water, being a nearly universal solvent, typically has a good amount of soluble minerals (electrolytes) in it. It is these soluble materials in water that actually conduct electricity through the water. Generally speaking, a lead/acid battery will not work without the addition of sulfuric acid electrolytes to conduct the current between the cell plates.